This bag is made from tightly-woven C19th French hemp. The antique textile has a lovely, moody colour, best described as a deep drab. This was achieved by immersing the hemp in a walnut dye bath.
The bag’s front flap has been cut in a wonderful and highly unusual ogee shape - the inspiration for it, the door on our rustic C18th longcase clock. A vertical, handmade buttonhole sits just above the point of the ogee.
Adorning the flap is an image and text, both block-printed in black linseed ink. The image is that of drover Silas Bone’s lost clay pipe - its bowl fashioned in the shape of a man’s head and his initials inscribed at the base of the stem. Beneath the pipe, rendered in lovely, old Copperplate are the words: ‘he trod heavily thereafter’.
Lifting the bag’s flap reveals the rest of the story or, rather, cautionary tale. Text and a date in the style of dissipating pipe smoke fill the front panel, and read: ‘Lost by Silas Bone, drover, 1812’. A genuine George III Halfpenny (dated 1807) - with the colour, feel and patina only two centuries below ground can impart - has been repurposed as a button to keep the flap secure. It was, appropriately, found in the fields of the West Country.
The rear panel is left unprinted, as are the bottom and side panels. All edges are hand-rolled and hand-stitched.
The bag is lined in striped linen, specially commissioned for this project and woven in Wexford, Ireland. Contrasting berry-coloured stripes, chosen by us, complement the bag’s muted tones perfectly. The interior features a patch pocket for any small, treasured items. The story of Silas’ lost pipe, concocted by Cameron and tapped out on a typewriter, is pinned to the inside of the bag.
A lovely antique leather shoulder strap - repurposed from equestrian tack - is triple stitched to the bag, and boasts its original swage brass buckle. Leatherwork was sourced, restored and expertly hand-stitched using waxed linen thread by the wonderful @ragofcolts.
Finally, for protection and to give the desired sculptural feel, the bag was gently brushed with traditional rabbit skin glue.
Each ‘Lost Bag’ is unique.
Dimensions - Height: 42cm Length: 49cm Depth: 8cm
Artists - Cameron Short & Janet Tristram in collaboration with Rag of Colts.
The ‘Lost Bags’ - *keep your treasures safe*
